Glowforge · CO2 laserGlowforge Pro HD
Glowforge's top Performance Series machine: an enclosed 45W CO2 laser with a Passthrough slot for long material, dual cameras with HD live view and Preview Mode, and cloud-based browser software.
- Work area495 × 279 mm
- Laser45W CO2 (rated)
- EnclosedYes
- Released2024
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illustration · not to scale Work area to scale vs A4
Specifications
| Type | CO2 laser |
|---|---|
| Technology | 45W CO2 glass laser tube (10,600 nm), enclosed desktop laser with Pro Passthrough slot — Glowforge Performance Series |
| Laser power | 45W CO2 (rated) |
| Work area | 495 × 279 mm — Cutting area approx. 19.5 in (495 mm) wide x 11 in (279 mm) deep; max material width 20 in (515 mm); Passthrough allows material up to 1/4 in (6.3 mm) high, 20 in wide and 'as long as desired' |
| Max cut (maker’s claim) | "Glowforge Pro and Plus perform well with many materials 1/4 in (0.6 cm) and less on a single pass. They can accommodate material as thick as 1/2 in (1.2 cm), but may require multiple passes or flipping the material over." (glowforge.com/b/materials FAQ) |
| Enclosed | Yes — fully enclosed |
| Laser class | Class 4 laser product (because of the pass-through slots), per the Glowforge HD manual; LSO training materials supplied |
| Camera | Lid-mounted wide-angle camera plus head-mounted macro camera (autofocus); 'Live Camera View HD' and Preview Mode (HD models) |
| Air assist | built-in |
| Software | Glowforge app (free, web-based, internet required); optional Glowforge Premium subscription |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz b/g/n); no wired Ethernet port |
| Released | 2024 |
Figures as published by Glowforge, checked 4 October 2026. Blank rows mean the maker doesn’t state it, so we leave it out rather than guess.
Strengths
- 45W CO2 laser — the most powerful current Glowforge
- Pro Passthrough slot for material of unlimited length (up to 1/4 in thick and 20 in wide)
- Dual cameras with HD live view, Preview Mode and autofocus
- CO2 laser handles clear acrylic and engraves glass, unlike the diode Craft models
Things to consider
- Class 4 laser product because of the passthrough slots; Glowforge supplies Laser Safety Officer training materials
- Needs Wi-Fi and an internet connection to start prints; no Ethernet port
- Large: 965 × 527 × 210 mm
- Vent outdoors (hose to a window) or use Glowforge’s optional Performance Laser Filter
- Glowforge doesn’t publish a weight for the HD models
Who it suits
Small businesses, schools and makers who need the fastest Glowforge and long-format work via passthrough.
Buying in the UK
As of 2026-10-04 we found no UK retailer listing new HD models and could not read the shop.glowforge.com HD pages (HTTP 429), so UK shipping from Glowforge is unverified. Glowforge's UK warranty page (glowforge.com/warranty/gb) does not list HD models. Spec page states '110/220 VAC, 50 or 60 HZ outlet'. UK support email support-uk@glowforge.com is listed on glowforge.com/m/contact.
Sources
- Glowforge — Tech specs comparison
- Glowforge — Performance Series tech specs
- Glowforge — Performance Lasers page
- Glowforge — Performance HD Series user manual v1.0 (PDF)
- Glowforge forum announcement — Welcome Glowforge Plus HD and Pro HD (2024-05-21)
- Glowforge — Materials page (FAQ on cut thickness)
- Glowforge — FAQ
- Glowforge shop — Certified Rebuilt
Checked 4 October 2026.
// Same type
Other co2 laser cutters
-
Glowforge CO2
Glowforge Plus HD
- Power 40W CO2 (rated)
- Area 495 × 279 mm
- Enclosed yes
An enclosed 40W CO2 desktop laser from Glowforge's Performance Series with HD camera view and Preview Mode, without the Pro's passthrough slot.
-
xTool CO2
xTool P2S
- Power 55W CO2
- Area 600 × 305 mm
- Enclosed yes
xTool's desktop CO2 cutter, the closest like-for-like Glowforge alternative in this list: a 55W CO2 tube, 600 × 305 mm bed, passthrough for long stock and dual cameras. …